Boundary

Raymond took his plate from the kitchen and settled at the tiny table in the dining nook - in full view of the television, which was currently belching the evening news. He was two full bites in when the noises began; the stairs creaked, something heavy dragged itself down the main hallway, and whispers wafted down from the attic. "Huh," Raymond remarked to himself. "Nothing from the basement; must be on holiday." Pushing away from the table and rising from the chair to his full height, Raymond took a deep breath and bellowed a shuddering groan building into a half shriek / cackle with loud palm smacks on the walls for good measure. Silence. "Right then," he said (and returned to his meal). "That's sorted." He didn't really mind a haunting most days but, every so often, you had to alpha the spirits and hold a firm boundary.